… ICC happy with Mumbai progress
(REUTERS) – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Indian board’s request to keep Eden Gardens in Kolkata as the venue for the World Cup match between India and England on February 27. The governing body has also asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to confirm an alternative venue by the end of this month, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told Reuters yesterday.
“We have replied to (BCCI president) Mr (Shashank) Manohar’s request last night and we have not agreed,” Lorgat, who is in Hong Kong, said by phone.
“We declined the request to extend the deadline because it’s not feasible for us to do so.
“We would like to know the alternative venue by no later than January 31 because we have to make all the logistic arrangements at the new venue.”
Kolkata was dropped on Thursday as the venue of the high-profile group match after an ICC venue inspection team found Eden Gardens under-prepared due to a delay in renovation work.
The Cricket Association of Bengal, which has its headquarters at Eden Gardens, asked the ICC through the BCCI to give another extension, promising to have the work completed by February 7.
Lorgat had no such worries about Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, venue of the April 2 final and two other matches and which has been given two weeks to complete finishing works.
“Well, at this stage, I’m not (worried). In fact, I was very pleasantly surprised by the progress they have made,” he said.
“They did very well to complete the major construction work and I do believe they will be ready. There is not much to be done there, some minor things only.”